Kamara Has Been Waiting for Notre Dame

Jeff Baumhower

03/02/2006

The Notre Dame staff continues to find players that they want to bring into the next recruiting class. Wide receiver Duval Kamara of Hoboken high school (N.J.) is the latest standout athlete the Irish have offered.

Duval Kamara (6-3, 205-pounds) wasn't a well known name among Notre Dame recruiting fans a week ago, but from here on out he will be. Charlie Weis and his staff offered Kamara a scholarship earlier this week.

"It happened about two days ago," Kamara said of his scholarship offer. "I was excited to get an offer from Notre Dame. Not too many people get a chance to be recruited by Notre Dame, let alone get offered, so I was excited. I've been getting letters here and there from them, but Notre Dame hasn't been recruiting me heavy. My coaches told me a couple days ago that they wanted to offer me.

"I got to talk to talk to Charlie Weis. He's funny. He jokes a lot, but he's serious about academics and school comes first. He said keep your grades right and I'll be over there.

"He said when I get there the primary receiver will be leaving," Kamara continued. " So, I will have a chance to be the big play receiver when I get there. I think that is real important for me to get playing time as a freshman."

Playing time will be important for Kamara, and from what he has seen of Notre Dame, he believes he'll fit in.

"I watched them play, but I don't know too much about them," Kamara said. "The tradition with Notre Dame football is huge and I like that. They show class on the field, and I think that's real important. They're not too flashy, but they are disciplined. I like that. They can put the ball in the air. I like that. He's (Weis) not afraid to throw the ball.

"I start on defense, but the position I want to play in college is wide receiver," Kamara explained. "I'm an all-around player on offense because we play the wing-t. I like to crack block. It gets the defense sucked in and the next thing you know the ball is in the air. I like going up and getting the ball. I like making big plays. I think that's exciting – making plays in the end zone, to be the weapon on a team."

Wide receivers coach Rob Ianello would love to have Duval as a weapon in the coming years, but as with any top prospect there are a lot of other coaches that have the same idea.

"Florida, Virginia, USC, Miami, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Connecticut, Boston College, and Tennessee," Kamara replied when asked which schools had offered him a scholarship. "USC is about to offer. They want me to call this week.

"I've been waiting for the Notre Dame offer for awhile. I really wanted to talk to the Notre Dame coaches and I wanted to get that offer along with the schools that I already had. I'm open with all the schools right now."

As a junior Kamara had 43 catches for 930 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had six interceptions on deffense.